Effects of Maternal and Posthatch Dietary Oils and Vitamin E on Antioxidant Capability and Muscle Quality of the Progeny Broilers

Effects of maternal and posthatch dietary oils and vitamin E (VE) on antioxidant capability and muscle quality of the progeny broilers were studied. Two-factor experiment was designed, there were two main effects, one was oil source, the other was VE level, diets were as follows: corn oil (CO) +20 mg/Kg VE, fish oil (FO) +20 mg/Kg VE, CO+ 100 mg/Kg VE and FO+ 100 mg/Kg VE. The results showed that: (1) FO in maternal and posthatch diets significantly reduced body weight of the progeny broilers at 42 d (P<0.05), significantly increased food/gain ratio (P<0.01) of 0-42 d, significantly increased lipid peroxides malondialdehyde (MDA) content of broiler serums at 10 d (P <0.01), 21 d (P< 0.01), 28 d (P<0.01) and 42 d (P<0.01) respectively, there was also a substantial interaction (P< 0.05) between oil sources and vitamin levels at 28 d, and also a trend at 42 d, the highest MDA content of serums was always observed in FO with 20 mg/kg VE group, the lowest MDA content of serums was occured in CO with 100 mg/kg VE group. (2) FO inclusion in maternal and posthatch diet increased breast meat MDA content, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of breast meat compared to corn oil treatment. (3) Addition of higher level of VE in maternal and posthatch diets significantly reduced MDA content of broiler serums at 10 d, 21 d (P<0.05), 28 d (P<0.05) and 42d (P<0.05) respectively. (4) Higher level of VE in maternal and posthatch diets also significantly reduced drip loss of breast meat of the progeny broilers, but increased meat MDA significantly, decreased meat SOD activity significantly, besides, there was an interaction trend (P=0.06) between oil source and VE level on meat MDA, FO group with higher VE appeared the highest MDA content in breast meast. These findings suggest that diet with FO need more antioxidant to protect from oxidation, but FO oil with higher VE in maternal and posthatch diets may bring about meat deterioration to the progeny broilers.